[Discoveries] 08-03-08 False teachers -- Jude 12-13

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

/*These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without 
the slightest qualm -- shepherds who feed only themselves. They are 
clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without 
fruit and uprooted -- twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, 
foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has 
been reserved forever. -- Jude 12-13*/

One of the purposes of the Judgment, I believe, is to give us some 
understanding of the wrath of God. Part of God's salvation is His wrath. 
In the end, when God's salvation is made complete, He separates us from 
His enemies (human and demonic), and executes vengeance on His foes.

I used to believe that false teachers were sincere people who were 
mistaken in their theology. Yes, some people are mistaken in their 
beliefs. But I think this passages is talking about a different group. 
These false teachers are those who teach lies about God by how they 
treat the most defenseless among us. In public they are pious. In 
private, they brand the souls of the vulnerable with deceit and cruelty. 
They etch lies into the deeply buried places in a person's heart, far 
away from the place that could be touched by an open discussion of 
doctrine.

The gift of eternal life is the gift of knowing God. We cannot know and 
embrace God without knowing that He is angry, that His anger is fully 
justified, and His retribution will be precisely measured.

We share God's heart. We don't want any to perish. We plead with our 
neighbors, no matter how evil they may be, to open their hearts to the 
Lord. We hurt for what is precious and was intended for eternal life.

But we also rejoice that God will not let evil continue forever. He will 
put an end to it; His justice will be displayed.

Be encouraged!
Dwight


What happens when you partner with Dwight Clough Ministries? Victims of 
violent crimes and survivors of abuse are finding peace, wholeness, the 
power to forgive and the strength to set boundaries. Those ensnared by 
addictions are finding freedom. Marriages are being restored. Families 
are strengthened. Christian brothers and sisters in restricted lands who 
face persecution are finding strength and encouragement. Young believers 
are learning how to walk with the Lord, and people are coming into the 
faith for the first time. None of this happens as a result of one 
person's efforts, but rather this is God's work as He blesses the 
sacrifice of many people including yourself. We partner with you, with 
other ministries, and, most significantly, with the Lord. That's how the 
supernatural happens.

You may freely post, reprint or redistribute this devotional provided a 
reference or link back to _DwightClough.com_ 
<http://www.dwightclough.com> is included.

Discoveries Devotional -- Inspiration in Your Inbox is provided daily by
Dwight Clough Ministries, Inc.
1223 West Main Street #228
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 USA
Dwight Clough Ministries is supported by your donations.
Visit _www.DwightClough.com_ <http://www.dwightclough.com/A-support.php> 
for more information.

Change your subscription: 
_http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/discoveries_

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/discoveries/attachments/20080726/648602a5/attachment.htm>